Buffalo Fire Investigate Fatal Fire | News

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BUFFALO, NY - A woman has died from her injuries following an overnight fire which destroyed a two-story home in the city of Buffalo early Friday.

The fire broke out at around 12:30am at a home at 174 Timon Street. Buffalo Fire crews got there and found heavy smoke and flames enveloping the building.

The family tells 2 On Your Side that 23 year old Lequeisha Watkins and her son three-year-old Malachi Norman were pulled out from the back bedroom of the house. Both suffered serious burns and smoke inhalation. Watkins was taken to ECMC, where she later died.

Little Malachi Norman was taken to Women and Children's Hospital and is in critical condition.

The father identgified as Barry Norman , Jr. and his other son, a two year old, were able to escape without serious injuries.

Morris Singer tells 2 On Your Side that he and his girlfriend heard banging and saw smoke coming through the vent in their second floor apartment above the burning unit. They were able to escape with their ten year old son and ten month old daughter without injury. Singer says he kicked open the door of the first floor apartment when he heard people were trapped but he was driven back by the heavy smoke and flames. He commended the firefighters for doing what they could to get to the mother and her child.

The fire was so intense it spread to an occupied home on one side and a vacant home on the other.